Zombie Apocalypse Stocks: The Quick And The Undead

The Zombie Apocalypse Stock Portfolio — companies that should thrive in an undead outbreak — were big market winners for several years. From "The Walking Dead" premiere in October 2010 to the end of last year, the 7-stock group rallied 380% vs. the S&P 500's 105%.

But so far in 2014, zombie stocks have been walking dead. Through June 27, the Zombie Apocalypse Stock Portfolio has fallen 9% vs. the S&P 500's 6% gain.

SolarCity (NASDAQ:SCTY) is up 25% so far in 2014. That's entirely due to June's 35% rally. SolarCity installs solar panels on homes and businesses, with attractive financing that reaps the benefits of government subsidies. But in June, it announced it would buy Silveo, a solar panel maker.

SolarCity's top shareholder is Elon Musk, founder and CEO of Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA). The electric car maker plans to build a huge "Gigafactory" to mass-produce batteries for vehicles, but also for uses such as storing energy from solar panels.

Tesla is not in the Zombie Apocalypse Stock Portfolio, in part because of the close ties with SolarCity. But Tesla batteries combined with SolarCity panels and installation would offer quiet, round-the-clock energy for homes — premium benefits in a zombie world.

Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ:SWHC) is the only other zombie stock that is outpacing the S&P 500 this year, with a 7% gain.

Guns are the top of any list in surviving hoards of zombies. But shares have fallen sharply since reporting weak guidance on June 20 as demand shifts to a "more normal environment." Gun and ammo sales had soared following mass shootings that raised expectations new laws would limit gun sales. But demand has been cooling in recent quarters.

Pall Corp. (NYSE:PLL) has been a steady stock and earnings performer. The maker of water filtration and other products may not seem sexy, but clean water won't be easy to find when civilization collapses. Pall shares are fractionally higher this year, lagging the general market.

Cabela's (NYSE:CAB) is an outdoor sports retailer. It sells guns, ammo, but a slew of other outdoor gear and apparel that's useful for camping for a night — or the rest of your zombie-filled lives. Cabela's shares have fallen 8% in 2014, partly on weaker gun demand.

Generac Holdings (NYSE:GNRC) has lost 13% in 2014. The generator maker, like SolarCity, offers stand-by and emergency power when the grid is down, which will be all the time when the dead rise.

Generac benefited from big sales following Superstorm Sandy and other disasters. But profit and sales fell sharply in the latest quarter on those tough comparisons.

Sturm Ruger (NYSE:RGR) has fallen 20% in 2014, as it has been a big loser from the gun demand slowdown. Profit and revenue growth have cooled precipitously in recent quarters.

GNC Holdings (NYSE:GNC) operates vitamin stores in malls across the country. In a zombie world, fending off scurvy will be almost as difficult as fending off walkers. GNC's vitamins offer lightweight, compact nutrition on the go.

Plus, in a zombie outbreak, Americans' instinct is to hit the malls. But GNC shares have been a big loser in 2014, plunging 42%.

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